I get the impression that's the conventional wisdom these days. People think he's overexposed and overrated. But I've never had anything but a great meal at Mesa ... Given a choice between Mesa and peers like Rosa Mexicano or Dos Caminos, I'll usually choose Mesa.

+1, actually. I ate there two months ago and I still enjoyed the food. It's not high end by any means, but this isn't the point. Compared to it's peers in price and style, I do view Mesa Grill favorably. It's also the type of place that I am much more inclined to grab a seat at the bar, order some food and a bunch of drinks, and then just relax with some good company.

I get the impression that's the conventional wisdom these days. People think he's overexposed and overrated. But I've never had anything but a great meal at Mesa. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've been several times in the past year and the food has been consistently very good. It's not on par with some of the finer restaurants in NYC, but then it's not trying to be. It's a casual, comfortable place that falls somewhere between your average NYC restaurant (La Esquina or some place like that) and a high-end dining experience. Maybe if you're going all out for dinner I would say save the cash and go to Le Bernardin, but for lunch or brunch it's definitely worth it. Given a choice between Mesa and peers like Rosa Mexicano or Dos Caminos, I'll usually choose Mesa.

In the past five years, I dined there two years in a row during restaurant week and brunch on another occasion. The food was so-so, but the service was not very good. For example, the waiters started to clear the table, without asking, before all of us finished eating. That has never happened to me at a restaurant on any level...not even Denny's.

I get the impression that's the conventional wisdom these days. People think he's overexposed and overrated. But I've never had anything but a great meal at Mesa. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've been several times in the past year and the food has been consistently very good. It's not on par with some of the finer restaurants in NYC, but then it's not trying to be. It's a casual, comfortable place that falls somewhere between your average NYC restaurant (La Esquina or some place like that) and a high-end dining experience. Maybe if you're going all out for dinner I would say save the cash and go to Le Bernardin, but for lunch or brunch it's definitely worth it. Given a choice between Mesa and peers like Rosa Mexicano or Dos Caminos, I'll usually choose Mesa.

In the past five years, I dined there two years in a row during restaurant week and brunch on another occasion. The food was so-so, but the service was not very good. For example, the waiters started to clear the table, without asking, before all of us finished eating. That has never happened to me at a restaurant on any level...not even Denny's.

We complained about it to someone who appeared to the manager. He said that he was sorry, and that he had told his staff to quit doing that. Apparently, this was a common practice (mistake) at Mesa. lol.

In the past five years, I dined there two years in a row during restaurant week and brunch on another occasion. The food was so-so, but the service was not very good. For example, the waiters started to clear the table, without asking, before all of us finished eating. That has never happened to me at a restaurant on any level...not even Denny's.

well there's your problem. Nobody likes the brunch or "restaurant week" crowd, it's to their financial advantage to get you in and then out. And of course the food is so-so at restaurant week - it's the surplus salmon and skirt steak that is meant to cost the chef as little as possible in food and staff costs (and this is pretty much required since restaurant week diners don't bring much cash in for a restaurant as they rarely drink much either).

Yeah, that would be extremely annoying. I've never had it happen to me, fortunately. In fact service has always been exceptional when I've gone. Maybe the place just appeals to me in a totally subjective way. I mentioned Mesa to my fiance the other day and she reminded me that she wasn't thrilled with her food the last time we went (which was in August, I believe). I had forgotten about that. I'm willing to admit it's completely possible that I don't have the most discerning palate, and as long as food is above a certain minimum quality level, I think it's all good. I just like to eat. I'm a hungry bastard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lim's

In the past five years, I dined there two years in a row during restaurant week and brunch on another occasion. The food was so-so, but the service was not very good. For example, the waiters started to clear the table, without asking, before all of us finished eating. That has never happened to me at a restaurant on any level...not even Denny's.

We complained about it to someone who appeared to the manager. He said that he was sorry, and that he had told his staff to quit doing that. Apparently, this was a common practice (mistake) at Mesa. lol.

well there's your problem. Nobody likes the brunch or "restaurant week" crowd, it's to their financial advantage to get you in and then out. And of course the food is so-so at restaurant week - it's the surplus salmon and skirt steak that is meant to cost the chef as little as possible in food and staff costs (and this is pretty much required since restaurant week diners don't bring much cash in for a restaurant as they rarely drink much either).

I haven't had problems for lunch during restaurant week at other established restaurants. Even though lunch is $24, it's not much less than the a la carte during a regular week. And, why would brunch be a problem?

Has anyone tried Resto's Brunch? I just came back from having lunch and the Brunch menu looks legit. Also, Can anyone suggest a place in LES that serves a surpisingly good brunch? Freemans + Schillers + Essex House on weekends are way too crowded.

Q. I need you to recommend a restaurant. I'm a 35-year-old professional in Manhattan, and I am looking for a place where I can take my boys from the office to meet this smoking-hot girl I hooked up with at Lily Pond in the Hamptons this summer.

Me and my team, we're big into that whole meatpacking district thing. We like steak, veal. Maybe Italian food? There's one dude from Mexico City who eats only fish, which is weird. Maybe this girl would eat fish, too. I don't know. We've been to something like 10 restaurants now, and I think her favorite foods are truffle fries and ketchup. But she drinks Champagne. So maybe bottle service?

Speaking of, this place has to be exclusive. I need a little exclusivity to offset the fact that I'm taking a girl to dinner with six dudes who do math for a living, and not six girls who look just like her. Usually, she likes to eat in a room with women who look like beautiful giraffes and dudes tall enough to look down on them.

Which is, by the way, a message I totally endorse: I'm a former rugby back, 6-foot-3, 220!

Finally, if there's a guy in the restroom who could hand me a towel after I'm done doing my business in there and washing my hands, maybe give me a mint or something? I would be into that. Old school! I would tip that guy $5 just for being there, you know?

Q. I need you to recommend a restaurant. I’m a 35-year-old professional in Manhattan, and I am looking for a place where I can take my boys from the office to meet this smoking-hot girl I hooked up with at Lily Pond in the Hamptons this summer.

Me and my team, we’re big into that whole meatpacking district thing. We like steak, veal. Maybe Italian food? There’s one dude from Mexico City who eats only fish, which is weird. Maybe this girl would eat fish, too. I don’t know. We’ve been to something like 10 restaurants now, and I think her favorite foods are truffle fries and ketchup. But she drinks Champagne. So maybe bottle service?

Speaking of, this place has to be exclusive. I need a little exclusivity to offset the fact that I’m taking a girl to dinner with six dudes who do math for a living, and not six girls who look just like her. Usually, she likes to eat in a room with women who look like beautiful giraffes and dudes tall enough to look down on them.

Which is, by the way, a message I totally endorse: I’m a former rugby back, 6-foot-3, 220!

Finally, if there’s a guy in the restroom who could hand me a towel after I’m done doing my business in there and washing my hands, maybe give me a mint or something? I would be into that. Old school! I would tip that guy $5 just for being there, you know?

Q. I need you to recommend a restaurant. I'm a 35-year-old professional in Manhattan, and I am looking for a place where I can take my boys from the office to meet this smoking-hot girl I hooked up with at Lily Pond in the Hamptons this summer.

Me and my team, we're big into that whole meatpacking district thing. We like steak, veal. Maybe Italian food? There's one dude from Mexico City who eats only fish, which is weird. Maybe this girl would eat fish, too. I don't know. We've been to something like 10 restaurants now, and I think her favorite foods are truffle fries and ketchup. But she drinks Champagne. So maybe bottle service?

Speaking of, this place has to be exclusive. I need a little exclusivity to offset the fact that I'm taking a girl to dinner with six dudes who do math for a living, and not six girls who look just like her. Usually, she likes to eat in a room with women who look like beautiful giraffes and dudes tall enough to look down on them.

Which is, by the way, a message I totally endorse: I'm a former rugby back, 6-foot-3, 220!

Finally, if there's a guy in the restroom who could hand me a towel after I'm done doing my business in there and washing my hands, maybe give me a mint or something? I would be into that. Old school! I would tip that guy $5 just for being there, you know?

That's hilarious, especially more so when I first read it from Sifton describing the atmosphere at LAVO.

Q. I need you to recommend a restaurant. I'm a 35-year-old professional in Manhattan, and I am looking for a place where I can take my boys from the office to meet this smoking-hot girl I hooked up with at Lily Pond in the Hamptons this summer.

Me and my team, we're big into that whole meatpacking district thing. We like steak, veal. Maybe Italian food? There's one dude from Mexico City who eats only fish, which is weird. Maybe this girl would eat fish, too. I don't know. We've been to something like 10 restaurants now, and I think her favorite foods are truffle fries and ketchup. But she drinks Champagne. So maybe bottle service?

Speaking of, this place has to be exclusive. I need a little exclusivity to offset the fact that I'm taking a girl to dinner with six dudes who do math for a living, and not six girls who look just like her. Usually, she likes to eat in a room with women who look like beautiful giraffes and dudes tall enough to look down on them.

Which is, by the way, a message I totally endorse: I'm a former rugby back, 6-foot-3, 220!

Finally, if there's a guy in the restroom who could hand me a towel after I'm done doing my business in there and washing my hands, maybe give me a mint or something? I would be into that. Old school! I would tip that guy $5 just for being there, you know?

lol

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